OBJECTIVES: Evidence for the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in asthma is developing but it is not known if this translates to benefits in severe asthma or if a group approach is acceptable to this patient group. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of Group-CBT in severe asthma. METHOD: This was a two-centre, randomised controlled parallel group feasibility study. Eligible participants (patients with severe asthma and a clinically significant diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) score greater than 8 for the anxiety or depression sub-scale) received Group-CBT in weekly sessions for eight consecutive weeks and usual care or usual care only...

A 22-year-old man presented to a rural hospital in Australia with right-sided pleuritic chest pain, right shoulder pain and dyspnoea. The patient had been receiving chronic asthma therapy without improvement. CT of the chest was performed after an abnormal X-ray, incidentally revealing one of the largest documented right-sided diaphragmatic hernias, with left lung compression due to mediastinal shift. The patient was definitively managed with thoracotomy alone. The contents of the hernia sac included colon and multiple loops of small bowel with a 10 cm neck...

BACKGROUND: A poor relationship between perceived respiratory symptoms and objective evidence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in athletes is often reported; however, the reasons for this disconnect remain unclear. The primary aim of this study was to utilise a qualitative-analytical approach to compare respiratory symptoms in athletes with and without objectively confirmed EIB. METHODS: Endurance athletes who had previously undergone bronchoprovocation test screening for EIB were divided into sub-groups, based on the presence or absence of EIB ± heightened self-report of dyspnoea: (i) EIB-Dys- (ii) EIB + Dys+ (iii) EIB + Dys- (iv) EIB-Dys+...

We present a case of 16-year-old male, who was referred from private centre for dyspnoea, fatigue, and orthopnea. The chest radiograph revealed complete opacification of left chest which was confirmed by computed tomography as a large left mediastinal mass measuring 14 × 15 × 18 cm. The diagnostic needle core biopsy revealed mixed germ cell tumour with possible combination of embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac, and teratoma. After 4 cycles of neoadjuvant BEP regime, there was initial response of tumour markers but not tumour bulk...

The approach to an intrinsic cause of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is usually difficult but rewarding. We report a case of a middle-aged man who presented with progressive oedema of the upper half of the body, dyspnoea, cough and weight loss for a 1-year duration. He was a non-smoker without prior hospitalisation. Chest radiography showed right-sided pleural effusion with an apparent normal superior mediastinum. Contrast-enhanced CT of the chest revealed a right atrial mass extending and completely obliterating to superior vena cava...

Bronchial schwannomas are very rare pulmonary lesions, but its awareness is important to reach correct diagnosis and decide proper intervention. Clinical and radiological characteristics are mainly unspecific and pathological examination usually provides the definite diagnosis. In small lesions, endoscopic approach may be sufficient, but in large lesions associated with organising pneumonia surgical intervention may be required. Prognosis is typically favourable. We describe a case of a woman, aged 66 years, with productive cough and sporadic haemoptysis, dyspnoea, anorexia, excessive sweating and weight loss with 2 months evolution...

Non-invasive ventilatory support is frequently used in patients with severe respiratory failure (SRF), but is often limited to intensive care units (ICU). We hypothesized that an instantaneous short course of NIV (up to 2 h), limited to regular working hours as an additional therapy on the emergency department (ED) would be feasible and could improve patient´s dyspnoea measured by respiratory rate and Borg visual dyspnea scale. NIV was set up by an interdisciplinary respiratory care team. Outside these predefined hours NIV was performed in the ICU...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether COPD patients taught pursed lips breathing (PLB) for dyspnoea management continue to use the technique long-term and, if so, their experience of this. DESIGN: A mixed methodological approach using semi-structured telephone interviews, a focus group and observation of current PLB technique was used. Qualitative analysis was based on grounded theory. SETTING: Participants were recruited from the two inner city London (UK) boroughs...

BACKGROUND: To assess the trend of our surgical patients affected by malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and submitted to diagnostic/palliative or curative surgical procedures and to validate the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) prognostic score in our patient population. METHODS: This is a cohort study of patients submitted to surgery for MPM from January 2007 to December 2013. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate-adjusted comparisons by EORTC prognostic score for OS were accomplished using Cox method...

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause, characterised by progressive worsening in lung function and dyspnoea with an associated prognosis similar to or worse than many cancers. As a better understanding emerges around the pathogenesis and mechanisms driving disease pathology, a host of novel agents are being tested both pre-clinically and clinically. However even with this deeper understanding and positive pre-clinical supportive data, negative trial outcomes are frequently reported, highlighting the problems faced in treating such a heterogeneous disease with a varied clinical course...

In a number of large case series in the mid-1990s, lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) was shown to reduce dyspnoea and improve pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with advanced pulmonary emphysema. The large randomised National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) confirmed this in the early 2000s and also demonstrated that selected patients live longer after surgery. Patient selection is crucial to the success of the procedure and should be performed at a specialised experienced centre with a multidisciplinary team approach on emphysema treatment...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health issue with high social and economic costs. Concomitant chronic cardiac disorders are frequent in patients with COPD, likely owing to shared risk factors (e.g., aging, cigarette smoke, inactivity, persistent low-grade pulmonary and systemic inflammation) and add to the overall morbidity and mortality of patients with COPD. The prevalence and incidence of cardiac comorbidities are higher in patients with COPD than in matched control subjects, although estimates of prevalence vary widely...

Despite advances in the detection, pathological diagnosis and therapeutics of lung cancer, many patients still develop advanced, incurable and progressively fatal disease. As physicians, the duties to cure sometimes, relieve often and comfort always should be a constant reminder to us of the needs that must be met when caring for a patient with lung cancer. Four key areas of end-of-life care in advanced lung cancer begin with first recognizing 'when a patient is approaching the end of life'. The clinician should be able to recognize when the focus of care needs to shift from an aggressive life-sustaining approach to an approach that helps prepare and support a patient and family members through a period of progressive, inevitable decline...

OBJECTIVE: Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery performed through a left thoracotomy has potential benefits over conventional sternotomy, including reduced surgical trauma, faster recovery and potential improvement in quality of life. This study is a prospective assessment of quality of life in patients undergoing off-pump coronary bypass by median sternotomy and left anterior thoracotomy. METHODS: Quality of life was assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire, with additional questions on dyspnoea, angina, wound pain and scar aesthetics...

INTRODUCTION: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) among women presents atypically with atypical chest pain, neck pain, nausea, fatigue and dyspnoea. Co-existing co-morbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and hypertension along with difference in risk factor prevalence makes it necessary to have a gender specific approach. AIM: To study gender specific differences in diagnosing and treating Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) in North Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive men and women presenting with AMI were studied...

OBJECTIVES: Artificial tracheas fabricated from collagen-conjugated mesh appear to overcome fatal postoperative complications, namely anastomotic dehiscence and prosthesis dislocation. Such prostheses are incorporated by host tissue, provided they are wrapped in omentum (necessitating an additional abdominal procedure) and a silicone tube is used as a stent (to be extracted several weeks postoperatively). To mitigate related host impact (i.e. injury, pain and distress), we investigated the feasibility of implanting this type of tracheal prosthesis (∼5 cm in length) alone, without omental wrapping and use of a silicone stent...

KEY POINTS: "Dyspnoea" during exercise is a common complaint in seemingly otherwise healthy athletes, which may be associated with fatigue and underperformance.Because dyspnoea is an general term and may be caused by numerous factors, ranging from poor aerobic fitness to serious, potentially fatal respiratory and nonrespiratory pathologies, it is important for clinicians to obtain an appropriate case history and ask relevant exercise-specific questions to fully characterise the nature of the complaint so that a targeted diagnostic plan can be developed...

Excessive exercise-induced shortness of breath is a common complaint. For some, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is the primary cause and for a small minority there may be an alternative organic pathology. However for many, the cause will be simply reaching their physiological limit or be due to a functional form of dysfunctional breathing, neither of which require drug therapy.The physiological limit category includes deconditioned individuals, such as those who have been through intensive care and require rehabilitation, as well as the unfit and the fit competitive athlete who has reached their limit with both of these latter groups requiring explanation and advice...

INTRODUCTION: Ascending aortic aneurysm is the second most common aortic aneurysm to abdominal aortic aneurysm. Most ascending aortic aneurysm is diagnosed in sixth or seventh decade of life. Majority of patients of ascending aortic aneurysm do not have any clinical manifestations. CASE PRESENTATION: 45year old female patient presented with Dyspnoea on exertion (NYHA class II-III), palpitation and vague chest pain since 2 years. Patient had worsening of symptoms NYHA IV dyspnoea since last 1 month and the patient managed with medications since the patient was not willing for surgery...

INTRODUCTION: Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) can complicate most cancers, causing dyspnoea and impairing quality of life (QoL). Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are a novel management approach allowing ambulatory fluid drainage and are increasingly used as an alternative to pleurodesis. IPC drainage approaches vary greatly between centres. Some advocate aggressive (usually daily) removal of fluid to provide best symptom control and chance of spontaneous pleurodesis. Daily drainages however demand considerably more resources and may increase risks of complications...